Published March 3rd, 2022
A provider of social and affordable housing has made a donation of £1,000 to the St Austell and Newquay Foodbanks.
Ocean Housing split the donation, contributing to areas connected to the organisation’s properties and tenants as part of its continued effort to support local people in crisis. The contribution came from Ocean’s Hardship Fund, which was established to support Cornish charities and social housing tenants who are suffering due to coronavirus.
St Austell Foodbank has used the donation to supply non-food items such as deodorant, shower gels and nappies.
Newquay Foodbank has provided kettle packs for clients who don’t have access to proper cooking facilities. Everything in these packs can be eaten without cooking, or by simply adding boiling water.
Ocean’s Loraine Hoar, customer accounts manager, and Helen Clark, financial inclusion advisor, visited the St Austell centre to hear more about the hard work the food banks continue to do for Cornish communities. The centre noted that they typically receive fewer donations at this time of year, so were pleased to receive this contribution in a quieter period.
Loraine said: “It’s great to be able to give back to our local communities after another difficult year for many.
“Our tenants are at the heart of everything we do at Ocean and we are passionate about working with services that continue to support locals who are struggling. We have previously had collection points around our office which employees could donate to, but since we are all currently working from home this was a welcome alternative.”
With energy bills on the rise and a general increase in cost for fuel and food, individuals are being pushed to use food banks as a last resort. Statistics from the Trussell Trust, a network which supports food banks all over the country including St Austell and Newquay, state that one in five of the UK population lives below the poverty line.
Steve Ford, warehouse coordinator at the St Austell Foodbank, said: “We are delighted and so grateful for the recent cash donation and look forward to continuing to work with Ocean Housing who is one of our referral agency partners.”
Ocean Housing works closely with food banks and other support organisations, such as the Department for Work and Pensions, Citizens Advice, and credit unions to help tenants who find themselves in financial crisis get back on track.
To gain support from Ocean Housing via their hardship fund, Ocean Housing tenants and voluntary organisations can phone, email or LiveChat through the website, oceanhousing.com, or call 01726 874450.
